Divock Origi has been given the nod to spearhead the Liverpool attack in their Europa League showdown against Borussia Dortmund on Thursday night.

The Belgian striker is selected ahead of Daniel Sturridge, who has dropped down to the substitute’s bench.

Sturridge is joined on the bench by Roberto Firmino, who has been named in the matchday squad for the first time in three weeks.

Origi has played second fiddle to established spearhead Daniel Sturridge since both returned to fitness about six weeks ago following spells out injured.

But Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has decided to overlook Sturridge for the quarter-final first leg in Dortmund on Thursday night and promote Origi to the starting X1.

It is said that Klopp believes Origi’s pace is key to his team getting an away goal as the 20-year-old is better able to stretch the Dortmund defence and Sturridge is still not totally match sharp following his long absence from injury.

It is the only change to the Liverpool team from the side that drew 1-1 against Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.

In recent matches, Klopp has generally played the England international for the first hour of matches before then replacing him with the pacier Origi, 20.

Meanwhile, the other Liverpool team news is that Emre Can and Jordan Henderson will be paired in central midfield, with Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and James Milner in the attacking midfield roles.